used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
avalanchenounUS /ˈævəlæntʃ/
a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
clamberedverbUS /ˈklæmbərd/
past form of “clamber” — climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
cliffsnounUS /klɪfs/
plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
the state or fact of existing
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
hundred-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
icebergnounUS /ˈaɪsbərɡ/
a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
immediately past
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
ledgenounUS /ledʒ/
a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading SHELF’S LITTLE SURPRISE.
roused to anger
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
pleasuresnounUS /ˈpleʒərz/
plural of “pleasure” — a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
ShelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
SHELF'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHELF’S LITTLE SURPRISE.
shrewdadjectiveUS /ʃruːd/
marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
splinteredverbUS /ˈsplɪntərd/
past form of “splinter” — withdraw from an organization or communion
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
having a supporting base
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading SHELF’S LITTLE SURPRISE.
tetherverbUS /ˈteðər/
tie with a tether
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
Theodore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Theodore Shelf had reached the end of his tether, and, like a shrewd business man, he knew it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
precisely as stated
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
at the time that
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading You know you have to jump into the cold green waters below, or be crushed out of existence; and lingering to the very last second is not without its fierce pleasures.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading There is a certain mad excitement in standing on a high ledge of an iceberg when the steps which you have clambered up by have splintered away, and the hundred-foot cliffs above are threatening every instant to descend in crashing avalanche.
